Sandal with adjustable front and rear straps



ct. 12, 1948. c, E, BALLENGER 2,451,372

SANDALWITH ADJUSTABLE FRONT AND REAR STRAPS Filed Feb. 12, 1946 Z0 Z2 015 A5 Patented Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs SANDAL WITHADJUSTABLE FRONT AND REAR STRAPS Clarence Eugene Ballenger, Spartanburg,S. 0.

Application February 12, 1946, Serial No. 647,111

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements insandals.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sandal with improvedstrap-attaching means whereby the connection of the straps with the soleportion of the sandal automatically positions the straps to acomfortable fit on the foot of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sandal of theforegoing character wherein a single vamp strap has spaced slideconnections with the sole of the sandal and in a manner to present straploops at the upper side of the sandal in crossed relation, and with thestrap freely shiftable relative to the sole of the sandal to accommodateitself to the shape of the foot of the wearer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sandal having avamp strap retainer of the foregoing character and in combination with aheel strap fixedly attached to the front end portion of the heel of thesandal with the ankle or instep strap having sliding engagementtherewith to promote comfortable contact of the heel and instep strapswith the ankle of the wearer.

In sandals of the type disclosed herein there is considerableflexibility in the sole portion thereof which tends to cause the sandalto lose its original shape and also by such flexibility carries aminimum of support provided for the foot of the wearer, and to overcomesuch objections, it is a further and important object of the inventionto include in the sole portion of the sandal a metallic reinforcingresilient strip positioned between the upper and lower sole plies of thesandal with the rear end of the resilient metallic strip anchored in anyconvenient manner to the heel portion of the sandal approximate thecenter thereof, with the strip extending forwardly over the instepportion of the sole with the front end of the metallic-strip being freeor anchored.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent asthe nature of the in vention is better understood, the same consists ofthe noval construction, combination and arrangement of parts to behereinafter more fully described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a sandal constructed inaccordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the sandal showing the separate vamp andheel or instep straps,

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1,showing the sliding connection between the ankle and the heel straps,

Figure l is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2 andillustratesthe slide connection between the vamp strap and sole portionof the sandal, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing themetal arch support interposed between the top and bottom plies of thesandal.

While the sandal may be constructed of any material desired and of anysize for use by adults it may be noted that the sandal with its novelstrap constructions well adapts itself to the manufacture in children'ssizes and by such strap constructions, simple and easy adjustment to achilds growing foot is made possible. Referring more in detail to theaccompanying drawing, the reference character 5 designates in generalthe sole portion of the sandal that includes the toe portion 6, shank land heel 8 with a heel lift 9 of any suitable material, either leatheror rubber, secured in any preferred manner to the underside of the heelportion 8.

The sole portion 5 that is preferably constructed of leather comprises atread portion Ill and an upper ply section I I that is secured to thetread portion I0 in any suitable manner adjacent its marginal edge,preferably by a line of stitching I2 indicated by dash lines in Figure2.

A single vamp strap designated in general by the reference character I3is associated with the forward sole and toe portion 6 and has portionsof its length passing through slots I4 adjacent marginal portions of thesole with the slots arranged in pairs as shown in Figure 2. The vampstrap I3 has a buckle end I5 and an attaching perforated end I6engageable with the buckle end, intermediate portions of the strap I3being extended through the slots I4 to lie between the sole tread I0 andthe upper ply section II. as indicated by the reference character I! inFigure 4. As viewed in Figure 2, the apertured end I6 of the vamp strapI3 is inserted through the slot I4 and extends between the lower andupper plies of the sole and is fed through the opposite slot W to extendforwardly as at I8 for passage through the slot I I and betweenthe upperand lower plies of the sole to outlet at the slot M and be directed asat I9 toward the buckle end l5 of the strap. With the vamp strap I3 soattached to the sole portion of the sandal, intermediate portions of thestrap freely extend between the lower and upper sole portions l and l lwhich permits the vamp strap automatically to adjust itself to the shapeand size of the foot of the wearer.

A looped heel strap 20 has its free ends positioned between the upperand lower plies l0 and H of the sole portion 5 in proximity of theforward edge of the heel portion 8 and said end are there anchored byrivets 2| or other appropriate fastening means. The ankle strapcomprises'a buckle 22 carried by a strap loop 23 that is freely 7adjustable on one side of the heel strap and the co-acting ankle strap24 has a loop 25 at one end that is also slidable on the side of theheel strap 20' opposite the buckle strap loop 23. The heel strap 20 isformed of fabric that is cut on the bias to present the rear loopportion thereof in a normally elevated position somewhat above the heelof the foot, and with this arrangement of heel and ankle strapsautomatic adjustment is accomplished for comfortably fitting the strapsto the heel and ankle of the wearer.

As illustrated in Figure 5, an arch support is embodied in the sandalconstruction and is active in providing a substantial support for thefoot of the wearer as well as acting to maintain the sandal in itsoriginal shape. As shown, an elongated arcuate resilient metallic strip25 is mbedded between th two plies of the sole and heel portion and isanchored in position at its rear end in proximity of the center of theheel l0 by a brad, or other fastening device 26, the arch supportingstrip 25 extending forwardly of the heel and well into the instepportion as indicated, and while such forward end may be anchored to theinstep portion 5 or the sole portion 6, it is preferable to omit suchanchoring of the forward end of the metallic strip which gives thelatter more play in flexure for the comfort of the wearer but still isactive in maintaining the shape of the sandal and providing propersupport for the foot of the wearer. Also, it is to-be understood that acushion or filler may be inserted between the inner and outer soles ofthe sandal comparable with the thickness of the straps passing betweensaid soles to provide an even surface on the upper face of the innersole and the elimination of any ridges or the like that may result whenthe straps alone extend between two soles. With the filler provisioneasy flexing of the. soles is present and a cushioneffect provided forthe foot as well as the elimination of squeaking usually present inshoes or sandals when two leather surfaces or the like rub in contactwith each other.

A abov pointed out, the sandal herein disclosed is especially designedfor use by children with a View to meeting the changing requirements ofthe growing feet of children, the sandal being of. a type which canprovide lengthy service. As

is apparent, growing feet require enlargement "and possible reshaping ofthe strap of the vamp zone and material changes in. connection with theheel and ankle zones.

In the present invention the strap of the vamp zone. is adjustable ,asto effective length, and with its freely movable, concealed portionenables proper adjustment to be made to the growing dimensions of thisportion of the foot and the inward spacing of the points of emergence ofthe strap, from the concealed portion permits. desired adjustmentwithout causing the foot to project beyond the sole edge, thus tendingto protect the foot, since the latter can have considerable growthbefore equalling the width of the sole zone of the sandal. 7

A similar condition is present in. connection with the heel and ankle,both of which are enlarged through the growth of the foot. With strap 20formed of material cut on the bias, the

onstrap 20 to compensate for the changes in shape of the ankle, with thebuckle adjustments permitting proper adjustments'as to the changeddimensions of the growing ankle.

The sandal of the present invention provides for such compensation inboth zones through a single adjustment in the vamp zone and the dualadjustment characteristics present in the heel and ankle zone, with allof such adjustments being needed to secure the proper fit for thegrowing foot. As is evident, these adjustments may be made through amaterial range, so that the sandal remains serviceable for a greatlyincreased period of time.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believedthat the construction and use thereof will at once be apparent and whilethere is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment, it is tobe understood that minor changes may be made in the details ofconstruction, such as will fall within the scope of the -in-- vention asclaimed.

I claim:

1. A sandal having a vamp zoneand a heel zone with independentfoot-retaining assemblies thereat, the vamp zone having strap meansparvtially concealed in'the direction of sole width, the upper portionof said strap means being exposed, means for adjustably connecting saidexposed upper portions together, said sandal being further characterizedin that the heel assembly has a heel strap having its ends permanentlyconnected to opposite sidesof the sole at points approximating the frontportion of the heel, the strap body being exposed and formed with amid-zone spaced from the sole and adapted to lie above the heel of thewearer, the side portions of the heel strap extending upwardly andrearwardly in an arcuate path between the mid-Zone and the end securingzones, said heel assembly also including a divided ankl strap havingloops each embracing a side portion of the heel strap with each loopfreely movable in the direction of length of the heel strap, the freeends of the ankle-strap extending forwardly and upwardly and carryingcomplemental means for adjustably varying the effective length of theankle-strap, whereby the vamp and heel zone assemblies are eachadjustable to compensate for growth of the foot of the wearer withasingle adjustment for the vamp strap and dual adjustments for theankle-strap of the heel assembly, the heel strap being formed of fabricmaterial cut on the bias to thereby permit self-compensating shifting ofthe position of the mid-zone portion of the heel strap as needed by thefootgrowth.

2. A sandal as in claim 1 characterized in that the points of emergenceof the vamp strap from the concealed position are spaced inward from tperipheral edge of the vamp zone of the sole to thereby permit adjustedincrease in the efiective length of the vamp strap in presence ofincrease in dimensions, of the foot of the wearer without projecting thefoot contour beyond the peripheral contour of the sole.

CLARENCE EUGENE BALIENGER.

(References on following page);

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Maxey Jan. 23, 1934 Gillette Apr.5, 1938 Geffner June 18, 1940 Srajer Apr. 22, 1941 Smith Oct. 14, 1941Filsinger Oct. 21, 1941 Number Name Date Pickens Mar. '7, 1944 Hess June20, 1944 Hoy Nov. 13, 1945 Tibi1etti June 10, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTSCountry Date Great Britain July 29, 1930 France Apr. 8, 1930 France Dec.14, 1933 France Aug. 9, 1937

